Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade / CC BY 2.0Despite wearing scrubs outfitted with antimicrobial properties, health care workers’ clothing still became contaminated with bacteria, according to a recent study.

The study, which is published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, detailed how researchers from Duke University Hospital observed 40 nurses wearing three different types of scrubs over the course of three 12-hour shifts, with researchers taking cultures from the scrubs at both the beginning and end of each shift.

"Healthcare providers must understand that they can become contaminated by their patients and the environment near patients," said Deverick J. Anderson, MD, MPH, Director of the Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Prevention at Duke University Medical Center and lead author of the study. "Although not effective, we looked to eliminate this risk for contamination by changing the material of nurses' scrubs."

Analyzing the results from the three different types of scrubs — traditional cotton-polyester scrubs, scrubs containing silver alloy in its fibers and scrubs treated with a combination of antibacterial materials — researchers determined that the types of scrubs worn had no impact on contamination.

"There is no such thing as a sterile environment," said Anderson. "Bacteria and pathogens will always be in the environment. Hospitals need to create and use protocols for improved cleaning of the healthcare environment, and patients and family members should feel empowered to ask healthcare providers if they are doing everything they can to keep their loved one from being exposed to bacteria in the environment."

Researchers believe that the failure to reduce pathogens was the result of a combination of the textiles’ low-level disinfectant capabilities and repeated exposure to bacteria in short time frames. The researchers recommend applying the treated textiles to other fabrics such as hospital bed linens and patient gowns in addition to hand washing between patients in an effort to reduce contamination.